Aug
27
2013

The Best Muesli Ever

The Perfect Breakfast or Snack

The Best Muesli Ever

When I was doing my TTC (Yoga Teacher's Training) a few years ago, I was chosen to be in the kitchen. Everyone had to do a specific chore, which they'd call 'Karma Yoga' — they ranged from gardening to repair work and from housekeeping to toilet cleaning—I am ever happy I got cooking!!! Anyhow, my every day job for 6 weeks was to prepare the morning muesli... and I loved it! I became so good at it that my fellow student friends started calling me the 'Muesli Goddess.'

Here's my secret recipe!!! 

Ingredients

1 pack (450g) of organic oats or multigrain cereals 
1 cup of raw sunflower seeds
1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup of raw almonds, sliced or whole
½ cup of non-hulled sesame seeds
¼ cup of dried cranberries (or raisins)
¼ cup of olive oil
½ cup of maple syrup

 

  Preheat the oven at 450F.

  In a big bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.

  In a little bowl, whip the oil and the maple syrup together.

  Incorporate the maple syrup and oil mix to the dry ingredients making sure all the grains and nuts are coated. This is easier to do using your hands.

  Spread the muesli on a cookie pan and cook in the over for 5 to 7 minutes, then with a spatula, turn the mixture around and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes.

 

Variation: When the muesli has cooled off, you can add ½ cup of 70% black chocolate chips (Camino).

It will keep for a month, stored in a plastic container or preferably in a glass jar.

Aug
23
2013

3 Rules For A Healthy And Nutritious Breakfast

Plus: What to Have and What to Avoid

3 Rules For A Healthy And Nutritious Breakfast

In my house, there are three rules for breakfast:

It is mandatory

It has to include at least two different fruits

It has to include a good source of proteins

They say to eat your breakfast like a king, your lunch like a prince and your dinner like a pauper.

I could not agree more, and I would add that over all, it has to be fun, nutritional and absolutely delicious!

Fruit is a great way to say hello to your taste buds and your stomach after a long night. Then, proteins will fill you up and prevent you from being hungry in the morning. Plus, it will feed your brain the necessary (good) fat to keep it alert and performing. 

Any source of protein is good, including nuts, cheese, full fat or 2% dairy, eggs, almond or peanut butter, if there are no allergies.

Three things to avoid

Sweet and coloured cereals—they are loaded with refined sugar and artificial flavouring and colouring that are damaging to our children’s nervous system. Plus, as we know, sugar will metabolize really fast, so it will give you a quick boost and a big down shortly after. On top of a very uncomfortable hunger sensation through the morning.

White bread and any baked goods made with white flour—they are the same as sugar, they metabolize really fast and won’t feed you. 

Of course, any sweet and artificial juices that are just like soft drinks, a blend of sugar, water, and artificial colour.

Basically, it is all about avoiding refined sugar, especially in the morning! Remember, sugar is addictive, sugar makes you fat and it is responsible for the obesity epidemic and the increase of type-2 diabetes in our societies.